With specialties like borscht, cabbage soup, schnitzel, sausages and more, Café Europa in San Francisco, CA, brings the distinct tastes of central Europe to the Bay Area. This San Francisco restaurant is headed by an experienced owner, named Alex Silin, who has previously run European-style eateries. Café Europa is known among European food fans in the area for its deliciously, freshly made exclusive European favorites, as well as its friendly staff and laid-back atmosphere. The café welcomes visitors into its cheerful, brightly lit interior for dinner and a taste of European libations.

Appetizers

A meal at Café Europa begins with an appetizing array of European starters that might include Polish dumplings called pierogis. Pierogis are stuffed with an assortment of fillings, including potatoes and cabbage. The restaurant also serves seafood appetizers in the form of smoked salmon and marinated herring. Both delicacies are eaten plain or used as a topping for bagels, salads and other types of breads. The delicate mushroom-filled crepes are one of its customers’ favorite appetizers when available, while the brave try some of Café Europa’s homemade beef tongue if it’s on the menu.

Soups and Salads

On a chilly San Francisco day, almost nothing beats a warm bowl of soup. The soup menu at Café Europa typically includes an authentic red borscht soup and a creamy mushroom soup. The café has a variety of salads made to order as well. Some salads on the menu include a smoked salmon salad, a house salad with mixed greens, a beet salad and a homemade Caesar salad, which has the classic combination of romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese and croutons. A cucumber salad, served cold, is particularly refreshing on hot summer days.

Entrees

For the main course, this San Francisco cafe has a rotating list of classic European dishes. Some entrees that customers might get to sample are Hungarian beef goulash, which is a hearty concoction of meat, vegetables and spices, meat-filled cabbage rolls and a choice between chicken schnitzel and pork schnitzel. The café’s homemade sausages, which are made daily, are other delicacies to be on the lookout for. Its sausages are made from either pork, beef or lamb. Chicken and lamb kabobs are other dishes available as entrees, as is the rainbow trout and other freshly made fish.

European Beers

Keeping Bay Area beer fans in mind, this café offers a large selection of imported European beers. This menu includes draught lager beers from Poland and Germany, a golden ale and dubbel from Belgium and pilsner from the Czech Republic. Beer lovers sample a wide variety of beers from the bottle, such as a pilsner from Croatia and a lager from Poland or Russia.

Café Europa in San Francisco, CA, offers spirits that are representative of most of Europe and an ambiance that matches it. If you feel like going Old World while on a tour of the city, make sure to visit this spot in San Francisco. Remember to call ahead before your visit to see what’s on the menu, too. Offerings can change with the seasons or the chef’s whims.